Resistance

In one of the old ruins of Fertissio, the shadows of crumbling buildings created a gloomy atmosphere under the gray sky. Selena March, a member of The Outcast Collective, stood with labored breaths. Her hands were still smeared with blood after beating a poor relic hunter, who now lay helpless at her feet. The relic hunter's face was a mess, swollen and bruised beyond recognition. He could only groan softly, too weak to fight back or even speak.

Selena wiped the sweat and blood from her forehead roughly, her hateful gaze fixed on the broken figure before her. "You're all the same! Disgusting relic hunters!" she spat, her voice hoarse with rage.

In the corner of the ruins, Luca, another member of The Outcast Collective, observed Selena with calm, though slightly concerned, eyes. She knew Selena's anger wouldn't help the situation. With her arms crossed, Luca leaned against the crumbling wall, silently watching as her companion vented her fury without pause.

"Enough, Selena," Luca finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "He's useless now. You're just wasting your energy."

Selena stopped, still panting, and glared at Luca with eyes full of hate. "He deserved it!" she shouted, her voice shaking with anger. "He and those relic hunter scum took everything from me! That brat, Modeus, he killed my team! I'm not just going to forgive him!"

Luca let out a long sigh. She had heard this story countless times since the incident. Modeus, a rookie relic hunter, had caused a devastating loss for Selena's team just days ago. All the quantum artifacts they had painstakingly gathered were snatched back by Marlene's team. Not only that, Selena had lost most of her crew in the battle. The wound was still fresh, and her rage burned hotter by the day.

"I understand how hard it is to lose your team, Selena," Luca said, trying to stay rational. "But beating this useless relic hunter isn't going to get you anywhere."

Selena clenched her jaw, her furious gaze still fixed on Luca. But eventually, she kicked the relic hunter's limp body one last time, ending her brutal assault. The relic hunter lay there, motionless, trembling in unbearable pain.

Luca slowly approached, sighing. "Listen, I've looked deeper into that boy. The rookie relic hunter, Modeus Del Ferro, is currently on an escort mission for the Old World Network. They're transporting supplies to some newly discovered ruins."

Selena raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued, though her face still burned with hatred. "So what? You think I'll just charge in and attack them? How many people are involved?"

Luca glanced at Selena and answered, "About twenty relic hunters. They're fully armed, heavy weapons, armored vehicles. It's tough to attack them, especially with the wild monsters roaming around that area."

Hearing that, Selena slammed her fist into the crumbling wall, causing dust to fall from the old stones. "Damn it! So you're saying I should just let that kid live? After everything he did to us?"

Luca remained calm, watching Selena, still gripped by her anger. "I didn't say that," she replied. "But attacking them head-on right now would be suicide. You know how hard it is to take down a convoy that size with that many guards. Plus, those wild monsters are nearby. We might take out a few of them, but not all. Especially with Marlene riding along."

The mention of Marlene's name only fueled Selena's fury. "Marlene… Of course, she's there. That slippery snake must be loving her victory."

Luca met Selena's gaze more seriously. "Look, I understand you want revenge, but we need a plan. I get your pain, but going in without a strategy will only make things worse. We need time, and we need a smarter approach to take them down."

Selena huffed, knowing Luca was right. Charging in recklessly would just get more of their people killed, maybe even themselves. As much as her anger seethed, she had to stay rational.

"You're right," Selena muttered, though reluctantly. "But I'm not stopping until I see that kid dead by my hand."

Luca knew Selena thirsted for vengeance, but she also understood that facing Modeus directly right now would be foolish. Her mind began to turn, calculating the best way to use their situation to their advantage.

"We can't go for a direct assault," Luca said in a quieter, more measured tone. "But… there are other options."

Selena turned her still-burning eyes on her. "What do you mean?" she hissed, clearly impatient.

Luca gave a slight smile, turning on her heel and walking toward an old truck parked in the corner of the ruins. She pulled back the tarp covering the back of the truck, revealing a medium-sized mecha. The machine was made of dark metal that looked solid, and though it wasn't as large as the combat mechs used by the main forces, it still appeared deadly.

Selena stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she inspected the mech. "Is that… one of our old combat mechs?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Luca nodded. "Exactly. We've been working on it for a while. It's mid-sized, but more than strong enough to crush a rookie relic hunter without breaking a sweat."

She circled the mecha, inspecting the weapons mounted on its robotic arms and chest. "This mecha's equipped with energy cannons and automatic rifles on both arms, plus a small rocket launcher on the shoulders. But the real advantage is its maneuverability. It's nimble enough to handle terrain like these ruins."

Selena crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow as she listened. "So, what's your plan?" she asked, her interest piqued.

Luca's smile widened, sensing she was winning Selena over. "We won't attack while their convoy is on the move. That's too risky. But once they reach their destination, they'll split up, spread out, maybe even let their guard down. We'll keep watch from a distance. And when the moment's right, we ambush them. Modeus won't even know what hit him."

A faint smile tugged at Selena's lips. "And you're confident this mecha can handle them?"

Luca nodded firmly. "I've accounted for all the variables. They'll be busy with their escort mission, probably fending off some monster attacks. By the time they're tired and distracted, we'll move in. Modeus might be skilled, but he won't be ready for this mecha, especially after a long mission."

Selena rubbed her chin, her eyes gleaming with a growing sense of cunning. She stepped closer to the mecha, running her hand over its cold, rough metal, feeling the raw power beneath the combat machine. "Alright," she said finally. "We'll go with your plan, Luca."

She turned to Luca with a cold, wicked grin. "I've waited too long to take down that kid. This is the perfect opportunity. We'll watch him, and when they're at their weakest, I'll destroy that little brat myself."

Luca saw the hate-filled smile on Selena's face and nodded in agreement. "Good. We'll start prepping now. I'll fine-tune the mecha and make sure all its systems are ready to go."

Selena glanced over at the truck parked in the ruins, her eyes narrowing as she considered all the gear they had brought with them. She could already picture the ambush—Modeus, Abigail, and maybe even Marlene—falling into their trap. The thought alone was deeply satisfying.

"Are we relying solely on this mecha?" Selena asked, though it sounded more like curiosity than concern.

Luca shook her head. "Of course not. The mecha is our main surprise, but we've also got weapons and drones. I've calculated the timing and duration of their mission. When they're at their most vulnerable, we strike."

Selena tilted her head slightly, her grin widening. "You've really thought this through, Luca. This is why I trust you."

Luca offered a small smile but kept her gaze steady. She knew this mission had to be flawless if they wanted to take down Modeus' team without suffering major losses. The mecha might be their trump card, but it was the solid strategy that would ultimately guarantee their success.

After checking that the weapons and mecha were fully operational, Luca turned back to Selena. "Now, we just wait for the right moment. I'll deploy some scouting drones to make sure we know exactly when to strike."

Selena nodded, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction as she stared out at the ruins on the horizon, her mind consumed by thoughts of revenge. "Modeus won't know what hit him. And when it's over, I'll savor every second of watching him fall."

Luca nodded silently, already thinking ahead to their next move. This wasn't just about revenge—they were also seeking a victory in one of Fertissio's most treacherous battlegrounds.

Selena's nod was slow, though her eyes still burned with fury. "Fine. We wait for the moment. But don't make me wait too long. I'm not a patient person, Luca."

Luca's smile was small but tense. "Don't worry. The chance will come sooner than you think."

With that, Selena glanced down at the relic hunter still lying on the ground, as if plotting something in her mind. Luca could see that her rage hadn't completely subsided, but for now, Selena was calm enough to keep her focus.

The two of them left the ruins, ready to finalize their plan and wait for their moment to exact revenge on Modeus, Abigail, and Marlene.

***

After a long and challenging journey, what was supposed to take 12 hours only took 9, thanks to the team's cooperation and steady pace without any breaks. Modeus, Abigail, Marlene, and the escort team finally arrived at their destination—an ancient ruin that appeared abandoned but was rich with history. The wind blew softly, carrying the scent of dust and rusted metal. Towering metallic ruins loomed around them, remnants of a once-great era now cloaked in rust and decay. Some relic hunters quickly began to relax—some speaking in hushed voices, others resting in corners—while the escort vehicles pulled back, with some teams opting to return to the syndicate.

What caught everyone's attention, however, was Takashima's presence. He stood tall at the front of the ruins, flanked by heavily armed guards outfitted in large powered suits and towering guard robots. Each was equipped with heavy weaponry, clearly ready to face whatever dangers might lurk within the ruins.

Takashima greeted them with a broad smile. "Welcome, all of you. Your escort mission was a success," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. "However, I have a proposition that may interest you."

Abigail, already intrigued, looked at Takashima with curiosity. "What kind of proposition?" he asked directly, not wasting time with pleasantries.

Takashima gave a small smile, noting Abigail's interest. "I'm leading an expedition deeper into these ruins with my team. It's an official mission from the Old World Network. But I could use your help. If you agree to join us, I can file an emergency request through my A.R.M. and each of you will be compensated with two million nexbit. How does that sound?"

At the mention of that amount, Abigail's eyes lit up. "Two million nexbit per person? You're serious?" he asked, as if doubting his own ears.

Modeus, standing beside him, turned with the same excited expression. He'd already been eager to explore further after the long journey, and this offer was too good to pass up. "I'm in," he quickly replied. "After that trip, I'm more than ready to see what's inside these ruins."

Takashima nodded, pleased with their reactions. He then looked toward Marlene, who seemed more cautious. She took a slow drag from her cigarette, her eyes narrowing through the smoke as she considered the offer.

"I'm interested too," Marlene said finally, "but one thing needs to be clear. What about my ammo? I don't want to be stuck wasting rounds on monsters without proper compensation."

Takashima chuckled at her question. He knew Marlene was a professional who wouldn't take unnecessary risks without financial security. "Don't worry," he assured her. "Any expenses you incur will be reimbursed by the Old World Network. I'll personally handle the budget. Ammo, supplies, even damage to your equipment—it'll all be covered in the official mission report."

Marlene nodded, satisfied with the response. "Alright, I'm in." She flicked her cigarette to the ground, crushing it under her boot. "If this is just an exploration mission, any quantum artifacts I find are mine to keep, right?"

Takashima gave a wide grin. "Of course. Anything you find in there is yours to keep. This isn't a retrieval mission, after all."

Marlene nodded again, reassured. She didn't doubt Takashima's word; she knew he was a top-ranked relic hunter, trusted by the Old World Network.

With the conversation wrapped up, Takashima signaled to his team to get ready. The members in their large powered suits began checking their weapons, ensuring everything was in perfect working order. Meanwhile, the massive guard robots stood tall beside them, ready to spring into action. The atmosphere around the ruins grew tense, as if everyone could feel the lurking danger inside the depths of the ancient site.

Abigail, already impatient, started inspecting his own gear. "So, what exactly are we looking for in there?" he asked, glancing at Takashima with curiosity.

Takashima stared at the ruins, his expression thoughtful. "We're not entirely sure," he admitted. "But these ruins once belonged to an ancient faction from Fertissio. Many believe they left behind valuable quantum artifacts inside. That's why I need you all—this place could be dangerous, and I need people I can rely on."

Modeus, who had been listening closely, felt his heart race with excitement. The adventure was sounding more and more enticing. "Do we have any intel on traps or monsters that might be inside?" he asked.

Takashima turned toward Modeus. "According to old records, this place was once an underground lab, so traps are likely. As for monsters, we've already detected a few mechanical creatures roaming the outer areas. Inside, it's possible we'll run into some mutated biological monsters."

Abigail let out a soft chuckle, grinning wide. "Traps and mutant monsters? Sounds like a good time."

Marlene, now prepping her new weapon, shot a glance at Takashima. "You mentioned quantum artifacts. How valuable are we talking?"

Takashima met her gaze, a mysterious smile forming on his lips. "Valuable enough to make you all rich if you manage to get even one out of there."

With renewed excitement, Modeus, Abigail, and Marlene joined Takashima and his team, ready to face whatever dangers awaited them within the ruins. The promise of great rewards and mysterious quantum artifacts loomed in their minds as they prepared to step into the unknown.

***